Rearview Camera OEM style installed!!
Rearview Camera OEM style installed!!
After doing months of research and waiting for the camera part to arrive, I finally completed my rearview camera install. I wanted to have a rearview camera that is small and inconspicuous, similar to the newer OEM Lexus (e.g. IS350) or Infiniti (e.g. FX45) ones. I also wanted to mount it in a similar fashion as those OEM ones. I didn't want to drill my license plate or use a license frame camera.
I chose the Panasonic CY-RC50KD for its small size (only 21mm tall). However, it is not available in the States, so I had to order it from Japan, which cost about $270! Actually Alpine and Eclipse also make very small rearview cameras. The Eclipse BEC-105 is just slightly bigger and is available readily in the US. However, the USDM one will only work with Eclipse HU's (I have a Kenwood). I really wanted the Alpine one but it cost about another $100!!!
I installed the camera next to the hatch release button above the license plate. There is not enough room due to the license plate lights, so I had to modify the light housing and rotate it 180 degrees to give more room for the camera. I had to make my own metal bracket to mount the camera.
Overall I am very pleased with the final results. Here are some pics:
I chose the Panasonic CY-RC50KD for its small size (only 21mm tall). However, it is not available in the States, so I had to order it from Japan, which cost about $270! Actually Alpine and Eclipse also make very small rearview cameras. The Eclipse BEC-105 is just slightly bigger and is available readily in the US. However, the USDM one will only work with Eclipse HU's (I have a Kenwood). I really wanted the Alpine one but it cost about another $100!!!
I installed the camera next to the hatch release button above the license plate. There is not enough room due to the license plate lights, so I had to modify the light housing and rotate it 180 degrees to give more room for the camera. I had to make my own metal bracket to mount the camera.
Overall I am very pleased with the final results. Here are some pics:
Last edited by gt3; Jun 18, 2006 at 04:39 PM.
Here are some shots of the camera video on the monitor screen. The screen is stretched so to give a better field of vision. I had it wire so the camera is always on, but the headunit will switch to the rear cam when I put the car in reverse. I can also view it while driving via the video in on the HU. The bottom of the screen shows the edge of my bumper. The camera actually works pretty well in low light settings (see 2nd pic from left). I can finally back up into a parking space without worrying about hitting the wall or concrete block!!! 
Last edited by gt3; Jun 18, 2006 at 04:28 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
From: Sweden
Very cool, nice install!
Would be even cooler if you installed an infra red camera in the front of the car for night vision and use that on the top screen and have the rear view on the lower one
/Roger
Would be even cooler if you installed an infra red camera in the front of the car for night vision and use that on the top screen and have the rear view on the lower one
/Roger
Originally Posted by Roggan
Very cool, nice install!
Would be even cooler if you installed an infra red camera in the front of the car for night vision and use that on the top screen and have the rear view on the lower one
/Roger
Would be even cooler if you installed an infra red camera in the front of the car for night vision and use that on the top screen and have the rear view on the lower one
/Roger
I thought I was done with the AV stuff for a while!!P.S. Love your Nismo V2 kit!!!
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Originally Posted by nbdyfcnsqnc
Wow, nice job! That camera is tiny!
How did you make it work only when in reverse? Does it go through a computer or what?
How did you make it work only when in reverse? Does it go through a computer or what?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: France
Originally Posted by gt3
After doing months of research and waiting for the camera part to arrive, I finally completed my rearview camera install. I wanted to have a rearview camera that is small and inconspicuous, similar to the newer OEM Lexus (e.g. IS350) or Infiniti (e.g. FX45) ones. I also wanted to mount it in a similar fashion as those OEM ones. I didn't want to drill my license plate or use a license frame camera.
I chose the Panasonic CY-RC50KD for its small size (only 21mm tall). However, it is not available in the States, so I had to order it from Japan, which cost about $270! Actually Alpine and Eclipse also make very small rearview cameras. The Eclipse BEC-105 is just slightly bigger and is available readily in the US. However, the USDM one will only work with Eclipse HU's (I have a Kenwood). I really wanted the Alpine one but it cost about another $100!!!
I installed the camera next to the hatch release button above the license plate. There is not enough room due to the license plate lights, so I had to modify the light housing and rotate it 180 degrees to give more room for the camera. I had to make my own metal bracket to mount the camera.
Overall I am very pleased with the final results. Here are some pics:
I chose the Panasonic CY-RC50KD for its small size (only 21mm tall). However, it is not available in the States, so I had to order it from Japan, which cost about $270! Actually Alpine and Eclipse also make very small rearview cameras. The Eclipse BEC-105 is just slightly bigger and is available readily in the US. However, the USDM one will only work with Eclipse HU's (I have a Kenwood). I really wanted the Alpine one but it cost about another $100!!!
I installed the camera next to the hatch release button above the license plate. There is not enough room due to the license plate lights, so I had to modify the light housing and rotate it 180 degrees to give more room for the camera. I had to make my own metal bracket to mount the camera.
Overall I am very pleased with the final results. Here are some pics:
I can't read japanese, so can this camera do mirroring, is it water proof? Where did you bought it from? thanks!
luke
Last edited by luke79; Sep 11, 2006 at 07:33 AM.
Originally Posted by luke79
I can't read japanese, so can this camera do mirroring, is it water proof? Where did you bought it from? thanks!
luke
luke
Originally Posted by BhashaZ
More info? Does it have RCA?
And great install gt3!
And great install gt3!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: France
Originally Posted by gt3
Yes, I think the camera output a mirrored image. I don't know if it is water proof but I think it is designed to stand up to the elements. I ordered it from a company japan-direct.com as a special order. It took me about 2 months to get. You can pretty much get any Japanese gadget from them. Good luck!
BTW, I drop an email to japan-direct.com to have a quotation
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: France
I've got the quotation: $284 for the Panasonic camera... holy sh*t...
dgt3, do this cam has rca and can be connected to any rca video input like DVD HU have, or needs something else?
dgt3, do this cam has rca and can be connected to any rca video input like DVD HU have, or needs something else?
Last edited by luke79; Sep 12, 2006 at 07:04 AM.
Originally Posted by luke79
if you splitted the video signal to feed the rear cam input and the video in input on your HU, and the image is mirrored for both signals this means that the image is already mirrored by the cam, otherwise it could mean that the HU was mirroring the image, but I think it's not the case. Am I right?
BTW, I drop an email to japan-direct.com to have a quotation
BTW, I drop an email to japan-direct.com to have a quotation